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Don Lemon Tonight

House To Vote Tomorrow To Impeach Trump; Multiple Republicans Say They Will Vote To Impeach; Lawmakers Warned At Security Briefing About Militia Extremists Coming To D.C. For Biden's Inauguration; Interview With Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA); House Voting On a Resolution Calling Pence To Invoke 25th Amendment To Remove President; Democratic Lawmaker Confronted In Airport By Trump Supporters; U.S. Attorney Looking At Sedition And Conspiracy Charges In Capitol Attack. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired January 12, 2021 - 23:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[23:00:00]

DAN RATHER, HOST AXS TV'S THE BIG INTERVIEW (on camera): I don't like to be a dude saying I'm populist as you know, Don. We can get through this, but we have to wake up and understand that we are being torn apart by extremes and it's the extreme right and unless it comes to a pretty quick halt, we are going to be in very deep trouble.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST (on camera): Well, you mention, you know, the price of anyone, if he will face consequences. They are voting now for, about the 25th amendment and enacting the 25th amendment right now as we speak and we are waiting on the final tally of the vote here. But Dan, we are hearing tonight that Mitch McConnell in the Senate actually happy that Democrats are moving forward with impeachment, while some other Republicans have already abandoned Trump.

Is this like when Republicans told Nixon that he is doomed? We are seeing a presidency on the ropes here. I don't know if it's quite that. Because if the Republicans actually went to the White House and said it's time for you to go Mr. President. I don't know if we are there yet? But is he doing?

RATHER: This won't happen with the (inaudible), if this true, I have no reason to doubt it. And it's a move in that direction. I don't want to make a light of this. But you know, the plot thickens, the plot is getting thicker than grandma's gravy here. And Mitch McConnell is absolute key to it.

There's a lot of hypocrisy with McConnell and many of the Republicans who had enabled Donald Trump to do what he has done. But we are at the point now where the Republicans really -- have a lot of leverage on what if anything (inaudible) happens with Donald Trump.

And I agree with you that there's some similarity that the situation with President Nixon, when the powers of the Republican Party came to him and said, either you resign or you are going to be impeached. We are not there yet, but we are right on the edge.

LEMON: Can America ever remove this stain of the stain of this presidency, Dan?

RATHER: Short answer is no. There may have been a time back six months, nine months, maybe a longer, but now, to be as I say is highly probable. He's going to be at least impeached. That doesn't mean that he is going to be found guilty by the Senate.

But, it becomes the second president, and the only president, to be impeached twice is a, this, this cannot be removed. That's why I say, that he now is what we call a stone cold loser. He knows it. It must be driving him crazy. But that is his problem. What we have to deal with is the result of what Donald Trump has done and has not done.

LEMON: Yeah. Dan Rather, always a pleasure, it's an honor indeed, I should say. Thank you so much, sir, I will see you soon.

RATHER: See you soon, thanks, Don.

LEMON: Yes, thank you. So, I want to update you on where we are right now, because there's some fast moving developments just hours to go with just hours to go until the House votes tomorrow to impeach President Trump for inciting the deadly riot at the Capitol.

Republicans now breaking with the president. Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the number three House Republican announcing that she will vote for impeachment, calling Trump's actions a betrayal. And also tonight, the Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell believes Trump has committed impeachable offenses.

This is what sources are saying, that McConnell hates the president for inciting the riot and if he votes to convict Trump, the president is done. The House voting tonight on the resolution to remove Trump by the 25th amendment. The Vice President Pence telling House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he won't do it.

There's a lot to get to tonight. A lot to discuss. I want to bring CNN's White House correspondent, John Harwood. The senior justice correspondent, Evan Perez. And senior political analyst, Kirsten Powers. Can't think of a better group to help me get through this. Thank you one and all, good evening.

John first. Hours away from Donald Trump becoming the first president in U.S. history to be impeached twice. This time, it's going to be bipartisan.

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): That's right. And that is a remarkable shift from what we have seen in the past. You know, Donald Trump has been behaving in outrageous ways throughout his presidency.

But, for almost all of that time, Republicans have in overwhelming numbers, almost unanimously stuck with him, of course in the impeachment over his extortion of Ukraine in 2019. No Republicans voted for the impeachment in the House and only Mitt Romney among the 53 Republican Senators voted to convict in the Senate.

What is remarkable about this moment is that the president has stepped so far over the line, by inciting this violence with threatening the lives of members of Congress of both parties. Threaten the life of his Vice President Mike Pence. That you are seeing people making independent judgments. Small numbers. Only four House Republicans so far. But, that is four more than you had in 2019. And you got the indication from Mitch McConnell that he is not willing to oppose impeachment or oppose conviction in a preemptive fashion.

[23:35:10]

Don't know what he is eventually going to do, but that's a signal that, of how much Republicans are fed up with the effect that Donald Trump is having on their party. And he still has a tremendous grip over a large portion of the Republican base. But he has got big problems.

LEMON: Yes, you said it much more eloquently than I would have. You said you don't know what he is going to do. I say, I believe it when I see it. So, listen, if he does, it will be monumental.

Kirsten, this is what Axios is reporting that McConnell not only is glued, excuse me, that Pelosi is impeaching, but according to them there's a better than 50/50 chance to vote to convict. And one Senate GOP source is telling CNN, if Mitch is a yes, that Donald Trump is done. Again, believe it when you see it, do you see it happening?

KIRSTEN POWERS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST (on camera): I will believe it when I see it. Of course, if it's -- if that's Mitch McConnell's position and that is what will happen.

But, you know, I'm not going to make any predictions about it, because the Republican Party has not been very good at holding Donald Trump accountable. And while four Republicans are better than zero Republicans in the House. It's still only four. You know, this should be something that should be unanimous.

I don't even understand the scenario where you don't have all Republicans saying, that you know, inciting an attack, a terrorist attack on the Capitol is not the kind of thing that you would want impeach somebody for. So, I also don't think that any of this also should have raise everything that they have tolerated up until this point.

Because as we have discussed before, you know, many people have been warning that the type of rhetoric that the president uses was inevitably going to lead to something like this. And they have sat by and tolerated this. And you know, and most of them are continuing to tolerate it, because holes are showing that a lot of Republicans are still with Donald Trump.

LEMON: I don't know what else to say. So, let's had move to Evan. Evan, lawmakers are getting briefings with shocking details about the insurrections last week and it's much worse than they thought. Is that having an impact as well? I mean, you look at what happened in, you know, the feces, the flag poles, you know, I mean, it's just disgusting. Is any of this reaching, is it having an impact? EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I think it is. I

think you saw some of the members started getting briefed yesterday by the FBI, by the Justice Department today. And what we merge -- what began emerging, Don, certainly our Congressional correspondents on The Hill were telling us that they were coming out and you could tell that they -- it was starting to at least dawn on them.

How close it was for them. That you know, essential this was a lot worse. One federal law enforcement official that I talked to today called it armed combat in that building. And you know, I think that's what being pressed upon them, because of you know, until the metropolitan police, the Washington Metropolitan Police showed up in that building, after the Capitol police had lost control of it.

You know, that's when the tide turned and frankly that saved the lives of these people. Because it could had been a lot worse. And I think that is what is coming across in these briefings. Because we were talking about the fact that there were bombs. I think the FBI has put out multiple posters now looking for the person who is responsible for these bombs.

It appears that -- that at least the theory from law enforcement is that somebody was trying create a diversion, trying to draw law enforcement away from the building. Or perhaps even detonate this when people are trying to flee the building. Again, it tells you that perhaps there was a planning, some command and control perhaps and that's what the FBI and the prosecutors are looking for.

LEMON: You know, Evan, Kirsten you want to say something before I follow up with that?

POWERS: Yes, I do want to say that the idea that they are coming out and this is really starting to shake them because they realize how much danger they were in. I think is the fundamental problem with the Republican Party. People, I mean, the thing, you know, that we are not talking about as much as we would normally be talking about it or all the people that are dying right now from COVID.

You know, there are people that are dying all over this country because of the president's, the way the president handled this situation. And because of the way they have been handling that. Pramila Jayapal, you know has the coronavirus now, because so many Republicans refused to put on mask when they are all hold up together.

[23:10:07]

I mean, the problem with them not being able to think about other people is the fundamental problem. And so now that Donald Trump has put their lives in danger. Now they are starting to care? I mean, there's just a really fundamental problem here.

LEMON: Yes, you've been saying what I have been saying forever, it's shocking to me. Imagine just -- I want you to just imagine for a minute any other group that this would have happen. Even if it was the pink, you know, what hat wearing people who have been protesting, or if it would have been Muslims, or people of color, or Black people, Black people or even Latinos or Hispanics who were saying, you know, we need better immigration reform.

Just imagine any other group doing this, how Republicans would have reacted? They would have been outraged and calling for -- Democrats should be on board, you know, it would have just been crazy.

POWERS: Right.

LEMON: Evan, hang on one second, Kirsten, because I know Evan has got some reporting. Evan, I think we're getting back to -- remember after 9/11 the see something say something? Right where everybody was on edge, and authorities were warning us everywhere. You saw billboards, you know in the subways, and on buses and you know, everywhere. If you see something, say something.

The top prosecutor in D.C., announcing today that they are pursuing significant sedition and conspiracy cases related to the siege on Capitol Hill. If you talk about that in all the pipe bombs and everything that -- this is a huge deal, this is what we're living now.

PEREZ: Yes, I know exactly. And this is a sprawling investigation from all 50 states. You have prosecutors and FBI agents, ATF agents working this investigation. And Don, here is a bit of an irony.

This summer when Bill Barr and the FBI Director Chris Wray were doing press conferences trying to draw people's attention to this great danger from Antifa, anti-fascist, they then -- the then Attorney General Bill Barr told prosecutors that they should consider bringing sedition charges because the concern was, leftist we're going to be over running the city as well.

Here we are, by the way, nobody brought those cases. But now today the acting U.S. Attorney here in Washington who was put in there by Bill Barr said today at this press conference that they're looking at bringing sedition and conspiracy charges against people who did this terrorist attack against the U.S. Capitol.

That is the great irony, you know, back this summer. People on the right we're very happy that this was being considered against the left. Now here we go, it's probably going to be used against some Trump supporters, who stormed into that building and committed this act of terrorism.

LEMON: It is -- I don't know if you want to call it irony, or poetic justice or what, I mean, look, John, I want to bring you back in here, because we are learning that just this moment the YouTube has now suspended President Trump. Go.

HARWOOD: Well look, social media companies of all kind recognizing that A, the president poses a danger to the country given the way that he incited that insurrection last week. And secondly, that he poses a danger to their bottom lines if they continue to convey some of his more incendiary material. And so they are protecting themselves and acting to shut down some of the communication that he's doing.

And when -- as we learn more about the gravity of this threat, that we faced last week and then we could face this weekend, that we could face a week from tomorrow when Joe Biden is inaugurated.

I think everyone is coming to grips with the fact that this is a very, very serious problem. That across the society, we've got to pay closer attention to and that means law enforcement at the federal state and local level. And it means other parts of society too, including social media companies.

PEREZ: Hey, Don, real quick. On this question, YouTube has been probably among the worst of all these companies in dealing with this, with really what is just poison, right. That has been on all these social media. A lot had been focus on Facebook, on Twitter, even Parler. But YouTube has this business model where, you know, they place ads.

I mean, they make money, they made millions of dollars on these channels that are poisoning people's minds with QAnon theories and all kinds of other stuff. A lot of it built around Trumpism. And so to me it's really remarkable that now they're rushing to the exits because they realize, that everything has changed.

LEMON: At this point, if I were him I would just save my money and just get a flip phone.

(LAUGHTER)

[23:15:00]

Hello, that's all he can do, right now. All right. Thank you guys, I appreciate it.

So, joining me now is Democratic Congressman of Louisiana, Cedric Richmond. He is a co-chair of the Biden inaugural committee and will soon be joining the Biden administration, good to see you Congressman. Thank you so much, I appreciate it.

REP. CEDRIC RICHMOND (D-LA) (on camera): Thanks for having me Don.

LEMON: It's good to see, I have spoken to you, but I haven't seen you since COVID diagnosis, but you are looking well. You're doing OK, right?

RICHMOND: Well, thank you, I was blessed I had a very mild case of it. And you know, I know I'm fortunate, because we've lost over 380,000 people in the United States from this. So, it's a very serious virus and we should approach it that way.

LEMON: We'll talk a little bit more about that, there's so much going on, but thank you for joining us. This is a historic night in our nation's Capitol at this hour for Republicans plan to vote to impeach President Trump tomorrow, how many more do you expect to join the Democrats?

RICHMOND: Look, I think will get a handful, I really do. Maybe a dozen or it could be two dozen. You have to -- Corporate America is calling Donald Trump out, American citizens are starting to call him and his actions out. But more importantly, everybody is starting to call out the United States Congressman on the other side that are enablers, the ones who voted for an objection even after the attack on the Capitol.

And I think you see the tide turning in the country against those enablers. So I think some people are waking up, a little too late but they're waking up.

LEMON: Yes, for the 25th amendment that I just got word. There were just one House Republican so far has voted for the resolution calling for Pence to invoke the 25th amendment, that's Adam Kinzinger in which we had expected. But you know, earlier they said that this may be a harbinger of things to come but who knows, maybe they don't think that the 25th amendment. Maybe people will say, I think he should be impeached.

And I don't think the 25th amendment will work, we want something, you know, that goes even further. So, listen, do you think that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will ultimately vote to impeach the president? That he defended for four years.

RICHMOND: I don't know. Look, I'm never going to put my faith, my future in the hands of Mitch McConnell. If he's going to have a profile in courage, then it's going to be a surprise to me. But I would hope so. I mean look you could follow the lead of his wife, who decided that enough was enough with Trump and I hope he makes the same decision.

But you know, look it's time. The impeachment is appropriate, this guy led an attack on the United States Capitol. He summoned people to Washington, he got them riled up and then he said let's go to the Capitol and overrun it. And so look, if that was a little black kid in the street talk about let's go to the corner store and take some skittles, they both would be charged.

And so I think that he has the moral responsibility as the leader of the free world, President of the United States of America, sworn to defend the constitution. He has to set a better example and to do this, is breaking the law and he should be held accountable. As well as every person that stepped in the United States Capitol and every one of them that touched any law enforcement officer that was out there.

LEMON: This really touches on what we -- a little bit of what we talked about and that's COVID relief and other things. Because CNN has learned that the President-Elect Biden call McConnell to discuss doing impeachment proceedings, while confirming his nominees and approving a COVID relief package.

You want to accomplish a lot in the first 100 days, is impeachment going to complicate that? Considering what you just said? How many people are suffering from COVID and so on?

RICHMOND: Look, I think the President-Elect is laser focused on the multiple crisis that this country is facing. Coronavirus and COVID-19. The economic crisis that has grown out of the pandemic. The frontline workers, the number of deaths, the unemployment, evictions, foreclosures all of those things. Ending systematic racism, racial equity, the climate crisis. All of those things are absolutely on the president elect's radar. And he is laser focused on it.

But then you have to come back to me. And this is not my role as a Biden co-chair, this is not my role as a person going into the White House. My role as a Congress person, is there are consequences and repercussions for leading an attack on the United States Capitol. Especially while members are in it. And so that's a role for Congress. I mean, look, I love Joe Biden, nobody worked harder than me to try and help him get to where he is.

But this isn't a purview of United States Congress, we have to protect and defend the sanctity of democracy, known as the United States Capitol. And so, I think members take it that way, and I think Joe Biden is absolutely right. President-Elect Biden is absolutely right for being laser focused on his agenda to help the American people. And to ask Congress to eat and chew gum -- walking and chew gum at the same time.

[23:20:19]

LEMON: Well, I got -- I want to ask you, because we need to get back to the vote and I want to ask you about this, this is important, because lawmakers who are brief on inaugural security today tells CNN, there is talk of a million militia march, that's alarming. What kind of an impact will this have on a Biden inauguration? Because you know he said I still want to take the oath outside, whatever, but is this going to have an impact?

RICHMOND: Well look, we don't want to get ahead of our national security experts. We don't want to get ahead of Homeland Security. But what it does highlight is that the Senate should hurry up and confirm our national security team. So, they should hurry up and confirm Tony Blinken, they should hurry up and confirm designee Austin. They should hurry up and confirm Secretary of Homeland Security nominee, Mayorkas.

So, that's what it highlights. We should not go in January 20th without the people responsible for protecting the United States of America, protecting these state Capitols without them being confirmed and in their seat of government so that they can protect Americans.

And so that is the real story right now. And look we're going to follow the advice of the experts. Led by homeland security and the United States secret service. And so we're not going to buck the trend, but I think we're going to be respectful of facts.

LEMON: Are any of the experts tell you not to have it outdoors?

RICHMOND: Look it's too early, experts have not said anything yet.

LEMON: OK. Congressman thank you, always a pleasure, you be well, I appreciate you joining.

RICHMOND: Thanks for having me, Don.

LEMON: Thank you.

The House voting tonight on a resolution to remove Trump by the 25th amendment, by using the 25th amendment and some Republicans are already saying that they're going to vote to impeach him. Is it a battle for control of the GOP, is that what's going on?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:25:00]

LEMON: So, our breaking news, the House voting tonight on a resolution calling on Vice President to invoke the 25th amendment to remove the president from office. CNN's Ryan Nobles at Capitol Hill for us, on Capitol Hill. Ryan, hello again to you. So, what's the vote tonight and when do the impeachment proceeding begin tomorrow?

RYAN NOBLES, CNN WASHINGON CORRESPONDENT (on camera): It looks like this is going to past, Don. We're still waiting for a few stragglers to come and cast their votes.

But the Democrats have more than enough right now for this particular resolution to pass, which would ask Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th amendment, which he has already said he is not going to do so the Democrats are prepared to move ahead tomorrow morning with their articles of impeachment. That process will begin at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.

Now, Don, the difference between what we saw you know, a couple of months ago, the last time President Trump was impeached and this time around, is that it is going to be a much quicker process. There are fewer articles, they plan to speed through this in.

LEMON (on camera): Ryan, we need to listen in. Sorry to interrupt. Here we go.

(BEGIN LIVE VIDEO)

UNKNOWN: Without objection, the motion reconsiders is laid on the table.

LEMON (voice over): OK, I'm sorry I didn't here but it passed, the resolution is adopted. I didn't hear the actual thing, but there we go. So Ryan Nobles, you're right you said there were a few stragglers. It looks like it was going to pass, and it did. The House has approved the resolution calling on Mike Pence to invoke the 25th amendment to remove President Trump from office let's listen.

UNKNOWN: 9:00 a.m. tomorrow.

LEMON (on camera): So, it sounds like he saying, Ryan, the House is going to adjourned until 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. And that is when the proceedings will start again, different proceedings this time for impeachment.

(END VIDEO LIVE FEED)

NOBLES (on camera): Yes, that's exactly right, and you know, there are going to be serious of debates as they go through the process. You know, they've already approved the rules for tomorrow that happened earlier today.

And you know, we should point out, Don, you and I talk earlier about how many Republicans would vote for this stage of the process. There was only one and that was Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who has been a pretty vocal critic of President Trump. You know, in his conduct surrounding the riots last Wednesday.

We expect far more Republicans to vote in favor of impeachment tomorrow. We know of at least for that had come out publicly and said that they are going to -- that number could increase, it could be as many as a dozen or more.

So, you know, this is much different than it was last time around, where it was a very much along partisan lines. It will be a much quicker process than it was last time around and then of course, Don, the big question we don't know the answer to, is how the United States Senate will handle all of this. That's not something we may know immediately after that vote comes down tomorrow.

LEMON: Ryan, thank you very much. I appreciate your reporting. Ryan Nobles with the live breaking news on Capitol Hill. So you heard, it impeachment tomorrow morning and the vote this time is going to be in the House, it will be bipartisan. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell believes Trump committed impeachable offenses. A source telling CNN if McConnell moves to convict the president that Trump is done.

So let's discuss now. Stuart Stevens is here. He is the former chief strategist for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, also Brendan Buck, who was a top aide to former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. Hello gentlemen. So, there you have it.

Stuart, some Republicans have already turned on Trump, abandoned him saying that they will vote to impeach him. But many are still standing with him. Are we are witnessing a battle for who controls the Republican Party?

STUART STEVENS, FORMER CHIEF STRATEGIST, ROMNEY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN (on camera): Well I'd like to think so, I like to think that Liz Cheney is really the leader of the Conservative Party. And McCarthy is leader of the Autocratic Party. And I'd like to bet on the conservatives to win that fight.

But my hopeful instincts about Republican Party have pretty much ran out. But I think what Liz Cheney did is remarkable and extraordinarily courageous. She is showing all these weak Republicans, including mostly weak Republican men, what true courage is.

She didn't wait for everybody else to come out and see how they're going to vote. She just called it like it is. And there's not one Republican that doesn't believe that Donald Trump should be impeached. And this is a classic moral test for them (ph). I hope the Senate will impeach him.

LEMON: So why aren't they doing it? Why are they -- why are they sitting there if -- if they know he should be impeached, then why won't they vote to impeach him?

STEVENS: Fifty percent of the Republican Party still believes that there was an illegal presidential election. That's 50 percent of the Republican Party. That means activists -- it's probably like north of 75 or 80 percent. So --

LEMON: But, sir, do they believe that or do they think that their constituents believe it, so therefore they have to pretend they believe it?

STEVENS: I don't think any of these elected officials believe that it was -- election was illegal. But one thing -- all these congressmen were on the ballot. That would mean that they had illegal election.

(LAUGHTER)

STEVENS: It's absurdity --

LEMON: Yeah.

STEVENS: -- that like the top of the ballot was going to be illegal but the part that I was on was legal. How does that work? I don't quite get that.

LEMON: Yeah. It is a conundrum. I want to bring Brendan in now. Brendan, you know these players. What are they thinking? Are they thinking -- what are they -- and is it possible that they know things that we don't yet know that we may find out? Like, what are they thinking?

BRENDAN BUCK, FORMER ADVISER TO PAUL RYAN AND JOHN BOEHNER: Well, Liz Cheney had a line in her statement that was really interesting. That there's going to be more to come out in the days ahead that will give more people more information. It sounds like they've got a briefing today that changed a few minds. And so that will be interesting, to see what happens.

I think Liz Cheney is filling a leadership vacuum. There are a lot of members who should feel no sympathy for them but are upset that it got to this point and are upset that their leadership didn't head this off before it got there.

LEMON: Mm-hmm.

BUCK: So I think what she's doing, which is so obviously the right thing to do, but as Stuart said, it is actually courageous because I don't know that it's a political death warrant, but every one of these people who is going to be voting for impeachment is going to be having a primary.

And they are going to potentially -- I wouldn't be surprised if most of them who are voting for it don't end up running again, just because there are so many of those Republicans back home who believe that the election was stolen and will side with Donald Trump over almost anything.

LEMON (on camera): Gentlemen, thank you. Sorry. Time is short. We had the breaking news. So, I appreciate you joining us, and I'll see you soon. Be well.

So, Trump supporters accosting a Democratic congressman at the airport, but he did not back down. Congressman Lou Correa responds next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: The police let Antifa in. They opened the doors--

UNKNOWN: Hey, you're lying. Hey, your lie has been exposed. Your lie has been exposed. Your lie has been exposed.

UNKNOWN: Have you read the Constitution?

UNKNOWN: No, it's not a democracy. This is a republic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, welcome back to "CNN Tonight." We've had a ton of breaking news tonight. Just while we were in the break, there's a fifth Republican who has come out to say that they are going to vote to impeach, and that is Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Buel -- Butler, excuse me, who -- from Washington State.

And so joining me now is Democratic Congressman Lou Correa from California. Congressman, thank you. What do you think of that news, another Republican coming out? And good evening.

REP. LOU CORREA (D-CA): Don, I think it's actually right on. I think we've got probably up to 10 Republicans that may actually vote for impeachment tomorrow. This is a sign. The Republican Party is taking back the party away from President Trump. This is good news.

LEMON: The impeachment vote is going to happen tomorrow. There's a small -- there's a small hall where the attack took place. President Trump will likely be impeached. And then, what is the timeline as you expected after that?

CORREA: You know, the timeline is my understanding from Mr. -- Senator Mitch McConnell is the trial will actually start at or about the time that Biden will be sworn in as president. So, you could be seeing a trial that's going to spill over in to the new administration.

Nonetheless, I believe the trial will go forward. And based on what I'm hearing out there right now, Mitch McConnell has said effectively that he is pleased with the impeachment process. And I would say, don't be surprised if President Trump is impeached in the Senate like convicted, not charged, but actually convicted in the Senate, which would be good because, you know, if you compare the last impeachment to this impeachment, the other one, you talk about collusion, working with the Ukrainians, you know, trying to, you know, pressure the Ukrainians who helped his campaign.

This one is cut and dry.

LEMON: Yeah.

CORREA: This president got people riled up to attack Congress, a separate but equal institution in our government. And as you know, nobody's attacked Congress since 1812 when the British burned down the Capitol.

LEMON: Yeah. Listen, I'm told I misspoke. I'm not sure what I said. But it's happening in the same hall. I don't know what I said. But -- you got -- you got the point.

(LAUGHTER)

CORREA: Yes.

LEMON (on camera): So I'm glad you can answer my question. Listen, I've got to play this vide for you. This happened on Thursday, one day after the riots at the Capitol. You were at Dallas Airport. You were heading home to California when you were confronted by a group of apparent Trump supporters. I want you to watch this and then we will discuss.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNKNOWN: The police let Antifa in. They opened the doors--

UNKNOWN: Hey, you're lying. Hey, your lie has been exposed! Your lie has been exposed! Your lie has been exposed!

UNKNOWN: Have you read the Constitution?

UNKNOWN: No, it's not a democracy. This is a republic! This is a republic! This is a republic!

[23:40:00]

UNKNOWN: No, this is a republic! We the people, not you the elitists!

UNKNOWN: Who are you? Who are you?

UNKNOWN: You have literally got in their spine.

UNKNOWN: Who are you? Who are you?

CORREA: Who are you?

UNKNOWN: I'm me, mother (beep). CORREA: And I'm me, too.

UNKNOWN: Yeah.

UNKNOWN: Yeah.

UNKNOWN: Guys, let's get home. Let's get home.

UNKNOWN: Nobody here voted for you. We don't want you.

CORREA: That's OK.

UNKNOWN: We don't want you.

CORREA: That's OK. I don't work for you.

UNKNOWN: Who voted for you?

CORREA: A lot of people. Seventy percent of people in my district.

UNKNOWN: My children's future is (beep)! My children's future is (beep) because of mother (beep) like you!

CORREA: No, lady, it's because of you.

UNKNOWN: You don't care about none of us!

CORREA: Because I don't take your lies?

UNKNOWN: And you're talking (beep) to us!

UNKNOWN: You're supposed to be taking care of us.

CORREA: Where do you live? Where do you live?

UNKNOWN: Hey, are you a Democrat?

CORREA: Yes, I am.

UNKNOWN: You, (beep) rat!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON (on camera): Wow! Listen, you did not back down. I mean, it was incredibly tense situation. What were you thinking, especially when that big guy with the bandana was right in your face? The guy -- I mean, he looks like he was trying to intimidate you. What were you thinking?

CORREA: Well, you know, I wasn't thinking much other than I hadn't slept the night before. My adrenaline was still flowing from, you know, a situation where Wednesday night, I really thought that we were going to have some very seriously hurt if not killed members of Congress. So, my -- you know, I didn't sleep. I was still, you know, full of adrenaline. I get to the airport. I'm going to catch my plane that I'm late to, and I turned the corner and there's, you know, probably 20 of those Trump supporters and they had essentially came down on me. I was -- I was surprised. But nonetheless, you know --

LEMON: How did they recognize you if they are not even in your district?

CORREA: I don't know how they recognized me. I was surprised. But they recognized me. They figured out something of who I was. They must have heard me over the telephone. But I never mentioned my name. I'm quite intrigued as how they figured out who I was, I was a congressman.

LEMON: Yeah.

CORREA: And then, of course, it didn't seem like there was nowhere to go other than challenge him, challenge them back.

LEMON: Yeah.

CORREA: And you know what made me sad was number one, all those potty mouths, a lot of (INAUDIBLE), a lot of just anger and venom being spewed at me. And when you hear that tape very clearly, it's all misstatements and lies, but these are President Trump's lies. They are essentially devout followers of the president and all the lies that the president puts out is what they were essentially throwing at me.

LEMON: Yeah, it's really sad. That is what he has done to them. It's crazy.

CORREA: And we have an impeachment--

LEMON: Congressman --

CORREA: Yes?

LEMON: I have to run. If you can do it really quickly.

CORREA: Just wanted to say, this is why we are going to impeach this president, because he has essentially attacked the United States of America. It's not Dems versus Republican. This is about America.

LEMON: Congressman Correa, thank you so much. I appreciate. I'm glad you are safe. Thank you.

CORREA: Thank you.

LEMON: The Justice Department says that they will likely arrest hundreds of people over the Capitol riot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: So, the U.S. attorney announcing today he gave prosecutors marching orders to pursue significant sedition and conspiracy charges. The Justice Department has already charged 70 cases, but they are expecting dozens more.

Let's discuss now. The former U.S. attorney for the middle district of Georgia, Michael Moore, is here, and I haven't seen him in a long time. So, we lost Michael Moore, as I am told. We are trying to get some information from Michael on the press conference that was held earlier today. If we can get him back, we will.

As you know, they came out and held a press conference, but there were some concern about who was not there. They thought that officials should have been there answering some questions.

Michael Moore joins us now. Michael, good evening, sir. We lost you and now we got you back. And see, at a tap dance.

(LAUGHTER)

MICHAEL MOORE, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA: I see it.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: I had to put on my tap shoes right there. Thank you. Some prosecutors have their marching orders right now to pursue --

MOORE: Right.

LEMON: -- a sedition and conspiracy cases against people involved in insurrection. So explain the charges and how they built that case.

MOORE: Well, I mean, seditious conspiracy is a federal crime. You can't do something to try to forcefully, you know, overthrow the government or delay the lawful execution of a law or process. It will be pretty easy I think at this point to prove. They just have to prove there has been some agreement between two folks, at least, to conduct the acts and to go and then seize the Capitol, so to speak.

And so I think that is why you are seeing the prosecutors move on it. It carries up to 20 years, gets serious charge, also the charge, of course, of attempt to overthrow the government. But again, that is another federal violation. So, there are plenty there to work with for an aggressive prosecutor.

LEMON (on camera): Federal officials say that the scope of this attack is unprecedented and painted a grim picture of what we don't know about it. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN D'ANTUONO, FBI WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: In six days, we have opened over 160 case files, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

MICHAEL SHERWIN, ACTING U.S. ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (voice- over): There's a lot of misconceptions about what happened within the Capitol and it's going to come in to laser focus, I think, over the next weeks and days.

[23:50:00]

SHERWIN (voice-over): And I think people are going to be shocked with some of the egregious contact that happened within the Capitol.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON (on camera): So, they say that this won't be solved in the coming months. This investigation will far outlast this presidency.

MOORE: Yeah. I really am troubled by the idea that somehow this mad (ph) is going to go widen so much and it is going to go much deeper. I'm afraid that we may see people involved, including some law enforcement individuals, maybe other members who had some connection with the government that may have been involved in the planning of this.

LEMON: Wow!

MOORE: And you will see the U.S. attorney dig into that. The investigation will reveal it.

I mean, think about this. These folks went to the parliamentarian of the House's office. I would (INAUDIBLE) that a lot of these of confederate cowboys have no idea what a parliamentarian does, and they certainly would have no idea where that office was located. That would have been the office where those votes will be (INAUDIBLE) the electoral certification.

So, how did they get there? Who told them where it was? Who told them how to find that obscure place in the Capitol and that is where they should go to look?

And so when you start thinking about that, things don't just happen in a vacuum. So you got to wonder how that information was there and who provided it.

LEMON: Mike, just real quick, do you think they'll get all these guys?

MOORE: I think they will. They will go and sweep them up. Sure hope they will.

LEMON: Thank you, Michael Moore. Appreciate it. See you soon.

General Mark Milley and the entire joint chiefs are speaking out about the attack on the Capitol and reminding service members of their obligation to support and defend the Constitution.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So here's what you should know. On any other day, this could have been our lead story. I don't want this to get buried in the crush of the breaking news that we have had.

In the wake of the deadly riot, an extraordinary statement released by America's most senior military leaders, the joint chiefs of staff, including the chairman, Mark Milley, General Mark Milley, reminding service members of their obligation to defend the Constitution and to reject extremism, saying this, that Americans have a right to freedom of speech and assembly, but not to violence.

And there are question tonight about the possible role of law enforcement or members of the military in the attack.

Thanks for watching, everyone. Our coverage continues. Our special coverage of the second impeachment of Donald Trump begins tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. Good night.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)